Post Tagged with "Ireland"

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon?

For the last four years, I’ve been able to witness the descent of Ireland from self-proclaimed boom country (or “Celtic Tiger“) to one of the most indebted countries in Europe. But does economic downturn mean also a cultural downturn?

When I came to Dublin in 2007, I was expecting the city to be comparable to my hometown Cologne. It has the same size, the same small and well-arranged city center and I was expecting a plethora of indie clubs, alternative stores and a vibrant cultural scene. I was disappointed. It seemed people were only focussing on spending a fortune at HMV, going to the movies very often and drink colourful longdrinks in shiny new bars mostly frequented by bankers and solicitors. I did find a couple of places and areas with an alternative touch, but these were few and far between.

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Best of of 2010: a world tour in twenty-three posts

We’d like to say goodbye to 2010 wıth a world tour of favourite posts from each of our contributors. Here they are, in the order in which each one celebrates midnight. Happy New Year!

Marie (New Zealand): The New Zealand Dairy

“Where would Kiwis be without the local dairy? Certainly situations such as running out of the milk needed for the perfect cup of tea or not having enough snacks to share while watching a film on TV could get quite hairy.”

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Bloomsday – it's all about Joyce

Whether you have read it or not, James Joyce’s main work Ulysses had a huge impact on literature. The novel follows two protagonists and their actions around Dublin in Ireland, over the course of June 16, 1904.

And we in Dublin are pretty proud of our own literary genius Joyce (even though he left Ireland at the age of 22 and stayed mostly abroad until his death in 1941) – so if you happen to be in Dublin today, don’t be surprised if you see men and women wearing outfits from the 1910′s, reciting Ulysses on street corners. It’s Bloomsday after all.

Image via, taken by TedRheingold

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The value of (European) art

When it comes to the valuation of art, I’m a pessimist. Especially after the experiences I made as a musician in Germany, before moving to Ireland.

In direct comparison (although I’m not an expert) I would say there is a noticeable difference between Germany and Ireland when it comes to the valuation of art and acceptance of new artists. From what I’ve seen, the independent artists here in Ireland are much more easier accepted as artists by the public than in Germany, where most artists are only considered so when this is declared as profession on their tax declaration.

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The rain in Spain stays mainly in…

What do Severo Ochoa (Nobel prize for medicine) and Fernando Alonso (formula 1 racing driver, world champion) have in common? They were born in Asturias, a part of northwest Spain really worth a visit!

Last summer, I took a trip to Asturias for the first time and I have felt a strong connection with this land ever since. I visited one of my favourite cousins, who had moved from a vibrant European city to a small Asturian town. As a city girl, I was eager to know how she could change the excitement of the city for the land of cheeses and cider. Now I know!

Asturias is just stunning! It has amazing golden sand beaches, a picturesque countryside, and lakes where the cows are allowed to live freely. One of the things that stroke me the most is how the region reminded me of Ireland and Scotland because of the rain and the landscapes that rain creates. Another aspect in common between these three lands is that they play bagpipes. And another remarkable point is asturianos drink cider, whereas in the rest of Spain, people usually drink wine or beer.

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Everyone's Irish on March 17th

For most people, the 17th of March every year marks the one day when everyone can become Irish. And rightly so: wherever there’s an Irish pub in this world, may this be Macao, Cancun or even Reykjavik, you’ll get the chance to sip at a Guinness and try your singing skills at the “Irish Rover” and (of course) “Whiskey in the Jar“.

Image via

And how to celebrate St. Patrick’s day? (more…)